-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Three officials in a Los Angeles suburb whose high salaries sparked statewide outrage will step down from their jobs , the city 's mayor said Friday .

Oscar Hernandez , the mayor of Bell , California , said the City Council accepted the resignations of City Manager Robert Rizzo , Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia , and Police Chief Randy Adams , who reportedly had a combined salary of more than $ 1.6 million . He added that the three will not get severance pay .

`` Today , our city council took the quick and decisive action that is in the best interest of our city so that we may return our attention to delivering outstanding city services , '' the mayor said in a statement posted on the city clerk 's website .

`` We recognize that today 's economic climate and the financial hardships so many families are suffering put our past compensation decisions in a new light . To the residents of Bell , we apologize . We are confident that your pride in our great city endures and that the city 's financial health and superior public services demonstrate that our priorities remain intact . ''

But Hernandez also praised Rizzo and called the Los Angeles Times story and the resulting uproar that led to the resignations `` unfair and unwarranted . ''

The salaries have infuriated many in California .

Jerry Brown , California 's attorney general , issued a statement Thursday saying that his office had launched a investigation into the salaries .

The Los Angeles Times reported that Rizzo had an annual salary of nearly $ 800,000 a year , `` making him the highest-paid city manager in the state . ''

Citing the newspaper , Brown 's statement said Adams had an annual salary of $ 457,000 and Spaccia received $ 376,288 a year .

`` Most city council members are paid nearly $ 100,000 for their part-time jobs , '' the attorney general said .

`` These outrageous salaries in Bell are shocking and beyond belief , '' he said . `` With record deficits and painful budget cuts facing California cities , astronomical local government salaries raise serious questions and demand a thorough investigation . ''

`` It 's shocking . How did they get it ? '' Cory Christ , a resident of the city , said to CNN affiliate KTLA . `` They 're making more than the president -- it 's totally not fair , ''

California Assemblyman Hector De La Torre , who represents the district that encompasses Bell , also voiced outrage .

`` The city council salaries and the outrageous salaries for the staff have really riled up the community , '' he told CNN recently . '' ... It 's a working class community . They 're busy just trying to survive in this tough economic climate . ''

De La Torre said the median yearly income in the southern California town is under $ 35,000 a year .

`` Just to put it in context , the general fund for the city of Bell is $ 15 million . So , Mr. Rizzo with his salary and compensation package , around $ 800,000 is about one-fifteenth of the budget for the city of Bell , '' De La Torre said .

`` And Mr. Rizzo is obviously a little delusional about what the private sector would be -LRB- able -RRB- to pay anybody , certainly not $ 800,000 . Certainly not double what the president of the United States '' makes .

In his statement , Hernandez said the Times ' `` coverage and the contrived uproar the Times sought to provoke are unfair and unwarranted '' and praised Rizzo .

Hernandez said the salaries `` have been in line with similar positions over the period of their tenure '' and that Rizzo gave the town 15 years of balanced budgets after a $ 20 million shortfall .

`` While other cities are defaulting on their commitments , borrowing to maintain city services or even threatening bankruptcy , Bell has a healthy surplus that has enabled us to ride out the nation 's fiscal storm and even expand services to meet the growing needs of our low-income residents through the city food bank and programs for youth and seniors .

`` While other municipalities are shuttering their libraries and shutting down their parks and services , Bell 's parents know their children have access to services and activities that keep them safe -- especially during the summer months when school is out and working parents are not at home during the day . ''

Hernandez appointed Pedro Carrillo , assistant to the city manager , to be the interim city manager .

`` We acknowledge that the actions taken today are not a panacea , but a first step towards healing our city and getting back to business that ensures the safety and well-being of our residents , '' the mayor said .

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The state attorney general says the salaries are `` beyond belief ''

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The Los Angeles Times reported that the city manager had a nearly $ 800,000 salary

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The median yearly income in the town is under $ 35,000 a year